maplessence's review against another edition
3.0
On Good reads we all have our little quirks as readers. One of mine is that when I settle down with a book unless its a favourite author I'm expecting at least a 3* read. For me thats a good, but not memorable read. Even though I'm not the slightest bit mathematically inclined. I have a little line graph in my head until I settle on my final rating.
This is a book where the graph looked like the Swiss Alps until I ended up back where I started at 3*
For me, a big part of the problem was when the story changed from Charles/James to Jenny. I now know this is part of Seton's family history (which I didn't know till afterwards when I read the author's note) but I think Seton was probably hoping to discover more about the character of Jenny. Since she didn't I now know what a Goodreads “Mary Sue” is, as in spite of her sufferings, Jenny remains a blank perfect doll. Rob is better drawn but Seton doesn't make him a sympathetic character.
I do think Seton may have been better to have kept her focus on Charles. The narrative in that part was a real page turner. The language felt authentic (other than a slightly too early use of the expression about needing to break eggs to make an omelette) Doubtful even if it would have been in use in France at that time – really can't see a man from Northern England using it.
I have a copy of Katharine which is considered by many to be Seton's best work. If I don't enjoy that - & I am now not in a rush to get to it!- I'm just going to assume this is author that for me has dated badly.
Can't win them all. :)
This is a book where the graph looked like the Swiss Alps until I ended up back where I started at 3*
For me, a big part of the problem was when the story changed from Charles/James to Jenny. I now know this is part of Seton's family history (which I didn't know till afterwards when I read the author's note) but I think Seton was probably hoping to discover more about the character of Jenny. Since she didn't I now know what a Goodreads “Mary Sue” is, as in spite of her sufferings, Jenny remains a blank perfect doll. Rob is better drawn but Seton doesn't make him a sympathetic character.
I do think Seton may have been better to have kept her focus on Charles. The narrative in that part was a real page turner. The language felt authentic (other than a slightly too early use of the expression about needing to break eggs to make an omelette) Doubtful even if it would have been in use in France at that time – really can't see a man from Northern England using it.
I have a copy of Katharine which is considered by many to be Seton's best work. If I don't enjoy that - & I am now not in a rush to get to it!- I'm just going to assume this is author that for me has dated badly.
Can't win them all. :)
smiley938's review against another edition
3.0
The overall verdict: decent but would not recommend.
It took me a good 100 pages before I got into this book. Anya Seton throws a lot of unimportant names at you in the beginning which is confusing and burdensome. Once I got into the book, it was a real page turner. However, there are a few issues that I can think of (major spoilers ahead):
The character development is very strange and arguably absent. Seton moves through the story by using different character point of views. Normally, this is a great literary tactic. In this case, it never really connected for me. One minute, you're Charles. The next minute, you're James. Then you're Betty. Then you're James again for a long time, get to know him, start to like him, and then he dies. Then you're back to Charles. The jumping around made the character development scant and choppy. I never really got into the mindset of the character because you get so little time with each one. The POV is much more constant by the end of the book (primarily only Charles and Jenny), but still never really works.
Throughout the book, I found myself questioning why the character was acting like this. Robbie, for instance, has the most shocking turnaround. For 99% of the book, he's this "perfect" guy who is ambitious, kind, loving, gentle, loyal... and then for like one page, he unforgivably attacks Jenny. Um. What? Not believable.
And then Jenny - the star of the novel... she has absolutely no personality. Well, actually, her personality is being pretty. Almost all the descriptions about her and what people think about her revolve around how beautiful she is. For someone with such an interesting upbringing, she sure is boring. She also takes back Robbie in the end and is overall just a terrible example of a female heroine. On the day of her and Robbie's wedding, she suddenly panics and is terrified of him. This is probably Seton's attempt at foreshadowing, but it was completely out of character in this part of the book and did not elevate the storyline at all.
Considering the overall breadth of the book, I enjoyed how epic it was. Seton covers a lot of years. However, I prefer a little more "historical" in my "historical fiction." Granted, Seton clearly did a ton of research on her characters but there just isn't enough historical information about many of the main characters, particularly Jenny and Robbie. I don't fault Seton for making most of it up. It is fiction after all. I'm just warning you that if you think you're going to learn about the Jacobite rebellion, you won't learn much. I'd say this book was 20% historical and 80% chick lit. Unfortunately, you read about 300 pages before you realize how much of a chick lit book this is. The ending is very disappointing.
It took me a good 100 pages before I got into this book. Anya Seton throws a lot of unimportant names at you in the beginning which is confusing and burdensome. Once I got into the book, it was a real page turner. However, there are a few issues that I can think of (major spoilers ahead):
The character development is very strange and arguably absent. Seton moves through the story by using different character point of views. Normally, this is a great literary tactic. In this case, it never really connected for me. One minute, you're Charles. The next minute, you're James. Then you're Betty. Then you're James again for a long time, get to know him, start to like him, and then he dies. Then you're back to Charles. The jumping around made the character development scant and choppy. I never really got into the mindset of the character because you get so little time with each one. The POV is much more constant by the end of the book (primarily only Charles and Jenny), but still never really works.
Throughout the book, I found myself questioning why the character was acting like this. Robbie, for instance, has the most shocking turnaround. For 99% of the book, he's this "perfect" guy who is ambitious, kind, loving, gentle, loyal... and then for like one page, he unforgivably attacks Jenny. Um. What? Not believable.
And then Jenny - the star of the novel... she has absolutely no personality. Well, actually, her personality is being pretty. Almost all the descriptions about her and what people think about her revolve around how beautiful she is. For someone with such an interesting upbringing, she sure is boring. She also takes back Robbie in the end and is overall just a terrible example of a female heroine. On the day of her and Robbie's wedding, she suddenly panics and is terrified of him. This is probably Seton's attempt at foreshadowing, but it was completely out of character in this part of the book and did not elevate the storyline at all.
Considering the overall breadth of the book, I enjoyed how epic it was. Seton covers a lot of years. However, I prefer a little more "historical" in my "historical fiction." Granted, Seton clearly did a ton of research on her characters but there just isn't enough historical information about many of the main characters, particularly Jenny and Robbie. I don't fault Seton for making most of it up. It is fiction after all. I'm just warning you that if you think you're going to learn about the Jacobite rebellion, you won't learn much. I'd say this book was 20% historical and 80% chick lit. Unfortunately, you read about 300 pages before you realize how much of a chick lit book this is. The ending is very disappointing.
meglet_kitten's review against another edition
2.0
The ending of this book really irritated me. It would spoil the plot to say exactly why, but let's say it didn't mesh with my modern feminist sensibilities. I really love this author, but I found this book less engaging and harder to get into than her other books.
rosemaryandrue's review against another edition
3.0
This is the tale of Charles Radcliffe and his daughter, Jenny. We follow them over decades as they grow up, mature and go after those causes to which they will dedicate their lives to - to varying effect.
This is my first Anya Seton, and it was a very conscientious read, packed with historical detail and intriguing side characters. I learned quite a lot about the Jacobite uprisings. However, Charles somewhat faded compared to the characters surrounding him, and Jenny I found rather flavorless. Still, I will read more Seton, if only for the history.
This is my first Anya Seton, and it was a very conscientious read, packed with historical detail and intriguing side characters. I learned quite a lot about the Jacobite uprisings. However, Charles somewhat faded compared to the characters surrounding him, and Jenny I found rather flavorless. Still, I will read more Seton, if only for the history.
ryner's review against another edition
4.0
It's unfortunate that this title is no longer in print because it's easy to see why it was a best-seller. Anya Seton again brings the past to life in her story about the Radcliffe family during the Jacobite movement in England and Scotland. Brothers James and Charles participate in the rebellion, knowing that they risk their wealth, property, titles and even their lives in support of the exiled James Stuart, whom the Jacobites believe the rightful king of England. Eventually, with James Radcliffe having been executed and Charles himself in exile, the Radcliffes move to the background and the book focuses on Charles' daughter Jenny.
Seton's characters are not always likable -- at one of the book's climaxes, Jenny's husband Rob Wilson seems to completely step out of character and I wanted to strangle him! -- but that doesn't stop the reader from becoming completely engrossed, sucked into this turbulent time in England's history. Before reading Devil Water, I had only the vaguest notion of what the Jacobites were about, and now I can't help but wonder how history would have been different had James Stuart managed to secure the English throne.
Seton's characters are not always likable -- at one of the book's climaxes, Jenny's husband Rob Wilson seems to completely step out of character and I wanted to strangle him! -- but that doesn't stop the reader from becoming completely engrossed, sucked into this turbulent time in England's history. Before reading Devil Water, I had only the vaguest notion of what the Jacobites were about, and now I can't help but wonder how history would have been different had James Stuart managed to secure the English throne.
craftmomma55's review against another edition
5.0
This is my favorite Anya Seton book ever! IT is exciting and a wonderful slice of American/British history
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